Man stabbed to death; hunt on for 3

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 28
A 35-year-old man was stabbed to death at Faiydan village in the Nizampur area here following heated arguments late this night. The victim has been identified as Rajiv Bhatia, who was working as a private security guard in a Mohali-based warehouse. He is survived by his wife and a six-year-old daughter.
Police sources said three persons — Tiwari, Lalu and Bhubhanesh — were suspected to be involved in the murder and raids were being conducted to arrest them.
According to family members, the incident occurred at around 9.30 pm when the victim was on his way to buy vegetables. Three persons from the same locality accosted him and following a heated argument, stabbed him with a sharp weapon. “My brother had left home to buy vegetables. Three accused — Tiwari, his servant Lalu and son Bhubhanesh caught hold of Rajeev and stabbed him on the left side of his chest. Onlookers informed us and we rushed him to the GMCH, Sector 32,” said Ravi Bhatia, the victim’s elder brother.
According to eyewitnesses, after buying vegetables, the victim met the three accused for playing cards in a nearby park. While playing cards, the victim had a heated argument following which he was first thrashed and later stabbed with a weapon. Onlookers informed the police and the victim’s relatives, who rushed him to the GMCH where he was declared brought dead by doctors.
“We have constituted teams to arrest the three accused. The trio is believed to have been drunk at the time of the incident. The police are recording the statements of eyewitnesses.
“The victim was stabbed near his heart, which proved fatal,” said ASI Jagvinder Singh, the investigation officer. Meanwhile, a case of murder under Section 302 of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 31 police station. All three accused were yet to be arrested till the filing of this report.